LAKEPORT, Calif. – Lakeport’s Soper-Reese Community Theatre provided a jam-packed venue for this year’s Christmas concert of the Lake County Symphony, presented by Clear Lake Performing Arts.

The event took place on Sunday, Dec. 16, and also featured vocal performances by a number of local artists.

The concert opened with a tongue-in-cheek rendition of the late Burl Ives’ hit “Have a Holly, Jolly Christmas” sung by four artists dubbing themselves The Men of Soper-Reese.

The group included Mike Adams, Wally Fuller, Nick Jeremiah French and Doug Rhoades, backed by Nick Biondo on mini-cymbals, Tom Aiken at the piano and 5-year-old Taylor Parkinson, granddaughter of symphony Conductor John Parkinson. At the song’s conclusion she graciously presented each of the singers with a flower bouquet.

The 15 members of the Clear Lake Performing Arts Youth Orchestra then took the stage, under the direction of Susan Condit.

They delivered an impressive presentation of “Believe,” the theme from the movie “Polar Express,” and a special salute to the holiday season called “December Fanfare,” written by contemporary composer Andrew Dabczynski as a demonstration of fusing elements of classical music with old-time fiddle playing. The youngsters delivered a highly professional job on both pieces.

The more serious side of the concert then took place, with a symphony string section (which includes a harpsichord played by Tom Aiken) launching into Arcangelo Corelli’s classic Christmas Concerto, Op 6, No. 8. I.

Corelli wrote the piece shortly after the invention of the violin, and since he was an acknowledged master of this instrument his composition was arranged almost exclusively for strings, in this case 36 players.

A hallmark of Corelli’s work is “The Concertino,” a trio of musicians whose soaring notes both contrast with and blend into, the full orchestra. These parts were played ably by violinists Andi Skelton and Eleanor Cook, and cellist John Weeks.

At the conclusion of the Corelli work, the balance of the musicians filed in to bring the orchestra up to its full strength of some 65 members, including brass, woodwind and percussion players.

Parkinson then led the group through a series of popular Christmas favorites including “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” “Winter Wonderland” and others, ending with the familiar strains of Victor Herbert’s “March of the Toys.” with outstanding solo support from Catherine Hall on piccolo and drummer Scott Wise.

During intermission Doug Rhoades assisted Kim DeAlba, representing the CLPA Auxiliary – the fund-raising arm of the organization – in auctioning off a hand-decorated violin, painted by local artist Jay Jackson. Richard Birk submitted the winning bid.

The concert’s second half was opened by featured vocalist Shelly Trumbo-Mascari, who delivered jazz versions of Vince Guaraldi’s “Christmas Time is Here,” “Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow! And “Santa Claus is coming to Town.” Dressed as she was in a sleek, raspberry-colored gown, Mascari won extended applause.

Showing that music is often a family affair, Mascari’s father Walt Trumbo then sang Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas” backed by the soaring trumpet of Gary Miller, and also won enthusiastic audience support when he shifted from baritone to an upper register for a big finish to the traditional Bing Crosby favorite.

Tenor Carl Stewart next delivered a flawless presentation of “O Holy Night,” followed by Sarah Cunningham singing Mel Torme’s “The Christmas Song” and a scat version of “Jingle Bells” where she was expertly backed by her husband Cory Cunningham on trombone, Tom Aiken on piano and David Ferrario on electric bass.

Next was the popular vocal group EarReverence, made up of Bill Bordissso, Valerie Reid, Nick Reid and standing in for ailing Carol Cole Lewis, Bonnie Trumbo (Shelly’s mom).

This time they were joined by Carl Stewart, and they then took over in leading the audience through a medley of sing-along favorites, ending with Leroy Anderson’s “Sleigh Ride,” where most of the orchestra members donned traditional Santa hats, except for Conductor Parkinson, who sported a fur-trimmed black version labeled “Bah, Humbug.”

As has been a tradition almost from the symphony’s founding in 1977, the Christmas Celebration finale was the singing of George Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus” this time led by all the singers.

The next performance of the symphony will take place on May 18, 2013, when Clear Lake Performing Arts presents the annual Mothers Day concert.